The last 12 months has been characterised by a shrinking in the music festival market that’s seen some of Australia’s biggest names experiencing the squeeze.
In the space of a few nerve-wracking months, there was the cancellation of Pyramid Rock, Homebake, Harvest Festival (whose axing was voted as the 2nd Saddest Event of 2013 according to you) and the canning of Big Day Out‘s second date in Sydney (before the whole Blur cancellation fiasco).
While even the promoters of many of those same big-name festivals have admitted that the festival market has been more than a little more problematic, there’s a growing number of smaller-scale, boutique events that are blossoming under the same Aussie climate.
Examples include Tasmania being gifted with Panama Festival next year, set amongst the forest of the same name, the inaugural NYE On The Hill selling out in its first year a month ahead of its New Year’s kick-off, Festival of the Sun tickets disappeared in record time, while the likes of The Hills Are Alive, Boogie, The Gum Ball, River Boats, and many more continue to thrive.
Case in point: the two-day camping festival, Secret Garden.
Held on a secret location at a sustainable dairy farm near Sydney (owned by the benevolent Lynnie and Edgar Downes), the eco-friendly, not-for-profit music festival raises funds for charity (namely The Sarah Hilt Foundation, which supports sufferers of meningococcal), as well as a host of extra-musical activities including pop up performances and banquet halls of bountiful food and boozed-up bars. And has been doing so for five years. Today sees the first acts of the Secret Garden 2014 lineup being announced, and there is not a dud among its 20-strong, all-Australian lineup.
Today sees the first acts of the Secret Garden 2014 lineup being announced, and there is not a dud among its 20-strong, all-Australian lineup.
The biggest name on the bill is the soul-swaggering rockers The Rubens, who lead an insipring contingent of rock bands, including Sydney punk trio Bloods, the garage-pop posse Palms, the revitalised Papa Vs. Pretty, amp-blown garage group Straight Arrows, the dreamy alt-rock of Sures, and Australia’s very own answer to Flaming Lips, Richard In Your Mind.
But if guitars aren’t quite your jam, the Secret Garden 2014 lineup also commands a strong set of bands aimed squarely at your dancing bones; including the Meredith-triumphant World’s End Press, the enthralling Elizabeth Rose, electro-indie quintet Nantes, dancefloor domo Ryan Hemsworth, sophisti-funk lothario Donny Benet, and a DJ set from Goldroom.
Rounding out the hugely striking list of bands is cinematic folk outfit The Trouble With Templeton, the slow-burning Shining Bird, the lush harmonies of Little May, Melbourne melodist Olympia, Castlemaine’s finest D.D. Dumbo, the effortlessly cosmopolitain pop and Australiana lampooning Client Liaison, plus Secret Garden’s very own recurring resident, Lancelot.
Easily one of the best local lineups to be seen in an Aussie music festival for 2014 thus far (aside from Golden Plains, sorry Aunty). Plus tickets are “cheaper than ever,” organisers note.
“[But] sadly we can’t offer inclusive beer and wine as part of Saturday’s ticket price anymore. We need to stay on the right side of licensing laws to ensure Secret Garden gets to grow old disgracefully. Don’t fret though, our bars will be stocked to the hilt and we’re keeping the prices low. (Under five bones for beer. That low).”
Great sounds, sights, and settings, it all sounds pretty amazing, right? But here’s the bad news – you can’t go to Secret Garden.
Why? Because in a feat more impressive than the Secret Garden 2014 lineup is the fact that the boutique festival has already sold out, and a nearly a full month before its lineup was even announced.
Ballot tickets for the 2014 edition of the two-day camping event quietly went on sale at 9am 7th November to a selection of previous attendees and mates-of-bands; general sale tickets went on sale one week later.
On the same day the box office opened, at 9am 14th November, organisers announced that all passes – both the $126.50 1 day and $192.80 2 day tiers – had been completely exhausted.
“We’re both stoked and humbled with the level of support, thanks so much guys,” read a post on the Secret Garden website. To those who missed out, we are truly sorry. Rest assured, this ain’t our last rodeo. 2014 you better watch your back. The gardeners are coming!”
There is a glimmer of hope to overcome that FOMO feeling though, with a post on the Secret Garden Facebook noting to “stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer in exchange for? You guessed it, a free ticket.” At the very least, if you’re really bummed out, at least you’ll be prepared for 2015.
So next time someone tells you the Aussie music festival is struggling, you can bring up Secret Garden as an awesome exception.
(Image: Secret Garden. Source: Facebook)
Secret Garden 2014 Lineup
Bloods
Client Liaison
D.D Dumbo
Donny Benet
Elizabeth Rose
Goldroom (DJ Set)
Lancelot (Live)
Little May
Nantes
Olympia
Palms
Papa Vs. Pretty
Richard In Your Mind
The Rubens
Ryan Hemsworth
Shining Bird
Straight Arrows
Sures
The Trouble with Templeton
World’s End Press
+ more to be announced.
